Chaska, Minn. (KCHK) – There’s still plenty for the New Prague baseball team to work on. With five games this week to open the season, including a double header on Saturday, game two ends with a 4-2 loss to Chaska Tuesday night.

Trojan sophomore starting pitcher Daniel Feneis lasted five innings giving up three runs in his first varsity start. All three runs coming in the bottom of the third.

That bottom of the third wasn’t what sealed the victory for the Hawks, but it is what set the tone for the game. Chaska drew four walks and got eight batters to the plate while Tanner Judd connected on a two rbi triple.

“Just too many walks.” says Feneis, “First couple of innings I did good and then the third inning just kind of went all down hill.”

After the game admitting that he could’ve done with a few more first pitch strikes. Daniel spent most of his debut working out of two-and-three ball counts.

Adversely, Chaska’s starter Tony Kjolsing went seven innings giving up only two runs on three hits. Kjolsing benefitted from a trio of three up-three down innings through the first four, keeping his pitch count low. He also struck out eight New Prague batters.

Coach Tom Wetchka after the game admitted that they were trying to make things happen in order to score runs. Even succeeding on a suicide squeeze in the third, but getting caught in a line drive hit and run that turned into a double play.

Small ball has been a go-to style of offense early in the 2012 season for many teams due to wind conditions, however it appears that it may be a regular style of offense for New Prague.

Senior Tom Lehman would relieve Feneis in the fifth and give up one run in two innings of work.

The Trojans have three more games this week. Thursday at Union Hill against Red Wing, then a double header Saturday in Willmar. Coach Wetchka thinks it will be good for the team, but could pose some issues for his pitchers.

“We have them on a pitch count, we want to protect players arms. We’ll be able to make it through the week…everybody is kind of in the same deal as us. We take it one day at a time.”

Notes: NP P/2B Garret Palmstein left the game in the second after being cut behind the ear by a Chaska players spikes on a play at second base, he’s not expected to play until next week…NP batters have struck out 15 times through two games…NP pitchers have walked or hit 15+ batters through two games…P Daniel Feneis was named Pizza Ranch player of the game